Friday 10th December, 2021 at 3:22pm
Partick Thistle continued their unbeaten run last weekend as they came away from Palmerston Park with a point after a difficult game against Queen of the South. It’s now nine games since the Jags’ last loss while you have to go all the way back to September to find their most recent league defeat. Arbroath are on a similar run having not lost in the cinch Championship since mid-October. The Maryhill men now look to get back to winning ways against an Arbroath side who beat them 3-1 at Gayfield Park earlier this season. Thistle top scorer Brian Graham spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the clash, beginning by reflecting on last weekend’s draw in Dumfries:
“I think in the first half against Queens we could’ve been better. With the conditions, every time we tried to play the ball forward it was just going out and Jamie Sneddon has made a wonder save to keep it at 0-0 before half-time. I came on after the break and I think we were getting up the pitch a bit better but there’s a chance for me and I should really score. I think on reflection it’s definitely two points dropped, but it does continue our unbeaten run.
“You can always analyse where you can do better and there’s a chance in the game where I’m stretching for it on the volley, and I just can’t get to it. There are a couple of other chances as well where we maybe didn’t pick out the right option and the opportunity has gone. I think we need to look at some our decision making in the final third but overall, it’s not the worst result because it’s difficult to get maximum points down there.”
Brian has fired in 13 goals already this season adding to the 11 he bagged last term and the number nine is a firm fans’ favourite at Firhill as a result. Even when he’s not in the starting line-up, the Jags supporters can often be heard singing his name; something the striker says doesn’t go unnoticed.
“The supporters have been great this season. My son comes to the home games, and he sings the song and sings it all over the house as well so it’s obviously great when you have such strong backing from the fans. You can walk onto the pitch full of confidence and when they get right behind you it really makes you want to do well and repay them.
“Thankfully, I think I’ve repaid some of that support since I came to the club because it’s been a great move for me since I arrived here. The fans here make me feel loved and the love for the club that I have has just continued to grow over time so I’m glad I made the decision to come here because from day one it’s been brilliant to be involved with this club.”
Thistle are welcoming Dick Campbell’s Arbroath side to Firhill for some cinch Championship action this weekend and with the Angus side behind Thistle on goal difference alone the match could be key if the Jags want to remain in the hunt for promotion.
“I had a conversation with Neil Scally about them and Arbroath are topping the stats in most of the key areas. They’re flying at the moment and they’re a good side who haven’t dropped off this season. When we played them last, we were 1-0 up and some mistakes allowed the game to slip away from us.
“I don’t think it matters who they play at the moment because they can take the game to anyone with their style of play. They will be a really tough opponent but they’re coming here, and we’ll have our fans backing us all the way so we’ll go out onto the pitch and try and get the three points.”
Exclusive video interviews with Thistle assistant manager Alan Archibald and Ross Docherty will be available for JagZone subscribers to watch today – log in to view.
JagZone subscribers will be able to tune in to live audio commentary for our clash with Arbroath, starting at 2:30pm – click here to tune in.
We’ll have extended highlights and a full game replay of the fixture on JagZone following the game.
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